Pelargonium plant named ‘Duetemefi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Duetemefi’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double dark red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUETEMEFI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duetemefi’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Zonal Geranium plants with dark green-colored leaves and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in August, 2006 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z05-2629-2, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-22-09, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duetemefi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duetemefi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Semi-double dark red purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in plant habit as plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more vigorous than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Zonal Geranium have darker green-colored leaves than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower and umbel size as plants of the new Zonal Geranium have smaller flowers and larger umbels than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium zonale ‘Vineta’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Vineta’ in flower and umbel size as plants of the new Zonal Geranium had smaller flowers and larger umbels than plants of ‘Vineta’. In addition, plants of the new Zonal Geranium had larger leaves than plants of ‘Vineta’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duetemefi’ grown in a 10.5-cm container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting. Plants had been growing for two months when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duetemefi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z05-2629-2, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium             zonale identified as code number F-22-09, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant             habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth             habit; freely basal branching habit with about three basal             branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 21 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Internode length: About 2.7 cm. Texture: Slightly pubescent.             Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 8.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 10.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 147A; venation, close to 147A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B to 137C;             venation, close to 144A. Zonation pattern: Not observed.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 9.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.             Umbels displayed above the foliage on moderately strong             peduncles. Flowers face upright to outward.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 16             flowers per umbel.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In             outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany flowering is             continuous from spring throughout the summer.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 8 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 10 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 10.5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 62C.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five or six. Length:             About 2.9 cm. Width: About 2.3 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Aspect: Mostly             flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Between             66B and 57A; towards the base, close to 155D; venation,             close to between 66B and 57A; color becoming closer to 66A             with development. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 62C.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About four. Length: About             1.8 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Between 66B and 57A; towards the             base, close to 155D; venation, close to between 66B and 57A;             color becoming closer to 66A with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 62C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem):—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 59A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem):—Length: About 4.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 59A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About eight. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval.             Anther color: Close to 35A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape: Parted. Stigma             color: Close to 61B. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color:             Close to 61B.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about     5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duetemefi’ as illustrated and described. 